Improvement in machinery for scouring, glassing, and setting leather



. 'l zsheetS--sheefz l Ft AQLGCKWUUD. A Mach-ineryfur Securing, Glassng, and `Settiing N Leatherl 0,157,691, Y Patented Dec.15l874.

v 7 mv UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

FREDERIC A. LOCKWOOD, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY FOR SCOURING, GLASSING. AND SETTING LEATHER.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,691, dated December 15, 1874; application filed November 17, 1874.

- Leather or Beaming Hides, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this machine is to perform the y operations of scouring, setting, or glassing leather or beaming hides; and my present improvements relate to a class of machines in which the various movements required to perform these operations are effected by the toolsupporting mechanism above, and in connection with a stationary table or bed, in contradistinction to the method which has until very recently been generally adopted in employing a table which has been moved about beneath the operating tools.

A prominent example of the class of machines to which these improvements relate is shown in Letters Patent of the United States, numbered 143,829, issued to me on the 21st day of October, 187 3; and such improvements, though to a certain extent growing out of or being suggested by such patented machine, nevertheless embrace elements which distinguish them from it.

Thgpurposes of these improvements are to dispense, to a considerable extent, with the complexity of parts and expense of manufacture of my patented machine, to obtain greater power over the movements of the tool-carriage, and, generally, to simplify the construction and reduce the friction of machinery of the character above premised 5 and the details of the mechanism by which I carry out my object will be hereinafter fully explained.

The drawings accompanying this specication represent, in Figure l, a side elevation, and in Fig. 2 a vertical cross-section, of a machine embodying my present improvements. Fig. 3 is a section of the anti-friction mechanism which drives the tool-carriage. Fig. 4 is a section of one-half the tool-carriage and the parts immediately connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a plan of the tool-carriage and the stoprails, to be hereinafter explained. Fig. 6 is a section, showing the attachment of the crane to the cross-head of the machine. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are sections of details of the machine, to lbe hereinafter explained.

In these drawings, A represents a flat horizontal table nor platform, of suitable size to receive a skin to be manipulated, while in rear of this table is erected an upright frame or standard, B, composed of two side posts or housings, a c, spanned at top by a crossbeam,

b. Within the upper part of this frame., and

' the said screw F carrying a horizontal bevelgear, G, which engages with and is driven by a second beveled gear, H, the latter being in turn affixed to the rear extremity of a long horizontal shaft, I, which passes below the table A, and terminates at front in a crank or handle, J, by which it may be rotated. By means of the screw F, gears G and H, and shaft I, the altitude of the carriage and its accessories may be easily and quickly changed or regulated, according to the character or thickness of the skin to be operated upon. K in the drawings represents a horizontal swin ging crane or beam, which is pivoted at rear to the cross-head or carriage B by sleeves or bushings a3, let into such beam, (see Fig. 6 of thel drawings,) and ears c c, making part of such cross head, the said bushings surrounding loosely a shaft, L, carrying at top a beveled gear, N, which meshes into and is operated by a second beveled gear, O, affixed to one end of a horizontal shaft, P, which is mounted in suitable ears R R, projecting from the crossbar b, said shaft being provided with a pulley,

f, which drives it. The crane K is hollow or is composed of an open frame, and within it., and extending from end to end thereof, and revolving in bearings at each end, is a horizon'- tal shaft, S; and said crane and shaft support and operate the tool-holdin g carriage by means as follows: T represents a blockor carrier, which slides within the open crane upon ribs or guides g g, applied to each side of the latter, and the said block also slides over or about, and in part incloses by a tubular boss, fi, the shaft S. Within the boss t' is disposed a. tubular shaft or sleeve, U, and upon the inner end of such sleeve is affixed a beveled gear, V, which engages a companion gear, W, affixed to the upper end of a vertical shaft, X, said shaft being mounted at top in the carrier T, and at bottom in the arched frame, which supports thc tool-carrier, and is hereinafter del scribed. The outer end of the tubular shaft or sleeve U carries several anti-friction rollers, 7c l m, Sto., one of which, m, for instance, travels in a rabbet or channel, a, created longitudinally in the shaft S, while the others, 7c l, &c.,merely bear and roll uponv the said shaft when any endwise movement of the carrier thereupon or thereabout takes place. Y

It will be seen that, as one or more of the rollers enter a recess or channel in the shaft S, all the rollers and the sleeve U must rotate by and with the shaft, while all the rollers are free to trundle upon said shaft. rlherefore, by means of the rollers 7c l m, sleeve U, and gears V and W, I drive or rotate the shaft X and operate the tools, and at the same time reduce the friction between the carrier and shaft to such a degree that I am enabled to slide the tools and their carriage to and fro of such' shaft with great ease and freedom.

The main support of the operating tools and their carriage is an open or arched frame,

Y, which is disposed below the crane K and' V port or bearing of this frame being a crank or arm, P, secured to the lower extremity of said shaft X. To the free end or wrist-pin of the crank p is pivoted a horizontal spurgear or epicycle, q, which travels within and engages an annular gear or epicycloidal wheel, r, which is affixed to, and supported by, a horizontal ring or plate, S', secured to the frame Y, and concentric with the aXis of the shaft X. From the under side of the gear or epicycle, and at or near its periphery, depends a stud, t, while pivoted or swiveled at its upper end to this stud is a post, u, erected upon a barrel or tubular carriage, t, which is supported and slides to and fro of a horizontal shaft, w, the ends of which shaft are supported in the lower extremities of the legs of the frame Y.

As the tools which operate upon the skin are carried by the barrel or carriage o, and as the latter is caused, by 'means of the epicycloidal wheels g and r, to travel upon the shaft w in reciprocating rectilinear movements in a horizontal plane, the tools are thereby caused to travel over and act upon the skin in a right line, while the rotary motion of which the frame Y is susceptible combines to permit a universal freedom of motion of the tools in any direction. The upper part or head of the frame Y is a disk, or is provided with arms, which are received within a recess in the lower part of the bracket x, which intervenes between the said frame and the crane K; and a spring-latch, y, may be applied to the said bracket to operate in connection with and intercept holes created in such disk or arms, and by this means lock the frame and its accessories to such bracket when occasion ref quires.

The tool carriers or stocks are two in number, in order that the machine may be doubleacting-that is, act upon the skin with equal effect at each traverse of the tool-supporting carriageand are shown at al and b1, respectively, each being suspended from and pivoted at its upper inner corner to one end of the barrel or carriage t, before named; and, in order that each backward-going tool may be lifted from off the skin While the opposite tool is acting upon it, each tool-stock has pivoted to its outer edge the lower end of a rod, c1, the upper end of which is pivoted by a pinand-slot connection, d1, to one end of a working beam or oscillating double lever, e', the point of oscillation of which is the post u, hereinbefore named as erected upon the barrel or tubular carriage o.

The pivot c5, by which the tool-stock is pivoted to the connecting-rod c1, plays within a vertical slot, d5, created in such bar, in order that some play may be permitted the tool in passing over inequalities of the skin, and preserve the lever e and other portions of the machine from thrusts and strain which would otherwise ensue, a spring, f5, being combined with the rod and tool to retain the latter closely upon the skin. As the lever e must tilt from one sloping position to the other with each traverse of the carriage t, it becomes necessary to provide a means of alternately locking such lever in its position while the traverse is being made and the tool is acting upon the skin, and, when the traverse is completed, of unlocking or releasing the lever, and permitting it to be tilted in the opposite direction and lower the opposite tool upon the skin, at the same time elevating from off such skin the tool which has completed its traverse; and to effect this result I pivot, at its lower end, to each end of the carriage t, or horizontal arms extending therefrom, a vertical latch, 7c', lwhich is forced outward by a spring, l', the upper part of this latch terminating in a hook, m', which takes hold of the depressed end of .the lever, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the opposite and elevated end of the lever being above the opposite latch. As the outgoing end of the lever e' is always depressed and held in such position by one of the latches 7c', and this hold of the latch upon the lever must, as before stated,

be released as the carriage completes its outgoing movement, I create upon or aftixto each end of each rail f1 a spur Vor stop, l, so situated that, as the carriage completes its movement in either direction, the'latch brings up against this stop, and is removed from contact with the lever e', and the latteris released, while, simultaneously with this release, a stud or cam, u', depending from the under side of the epicycle q, wipes against or across the upper surface of one of two dually-arranged tubular sliders, o', sliding upon the said lever e', and depresses the opposite end of such lever, thus raising from the skin the tool which has performed the duty, and lowering upon such skin the opposite tool, which is next to advance. My purpose in employing the tubular sliders o in lieu of permitting the stud n to wipe directly against the lever is to enable me to throw either or both tools out of action or bring them into use, as may be desired, without stopping the motions of the machine. a

To operate these sliders without stopping the movements of the machine, I apply to.

each rail f1 two horizontal bolts, fr', each of which is forced outwardly by a spring, these bolts being so arranged that, when one is pushed inward by the attendant, its inner end shall protrude beyond the inner face of the rail, and so as to intercept a stud, s', projecting outwardly from the side of each slider. Supposing one tool to be free from control of the adjacent slider, and in its depressed or working position, and effecting its outgoing movement, and if it is desired to raise it out of action, the attendant pushes inward the bolt which may be in advance of `and nea-rest to the stud projecting from such slider; and as the carriage completes ,its traverse this stud impinges against the projecting end of the bolt, and the slider is thereby moved upon the lever and pushed thereon outwardly to its fullest extent, and so that its highest grade or step shall be out of the path of movement of the wiper-stud t and over its next step, by which the lever c1 is brought to a horizontal or midway position, the adjacent tool being elevated by means before stated, where it will remain inactive. Should it be desired to lower this tool into working position, advantage should be taken, preferably, of the movement when it nearly completes its outgoing traverse, when the bolt last named is again pushed inward, and as the carriage completes its traverse in this direction, the stud upon the slider abuts against the bolt. Such slide is pushed inward into the path of movement of the stud t, and the tool is left free to be loweredby such stud. In order to adj ust the relative positions of the tools and working beam, and

f therebyadapt the machine to treat skins of varying thicknesses, I proceed as follows: In the upper part of each bar c1 I create a transverse vertical slot, b3, and in this slot the pivot d1 plays, while 1 screw through the upper part of the said bar c1 a screw, c3, which enters the slot, and constitutes,` in practice, a changeable end, to determine the length of such slot. The screw c3, when lowered within the slot, determines the height to which the bar c1, and consequently the tool, shall rise above the table.

It is very desirable that when one of the slides is pushed outwardly, and the tool thereby thrown out of action, the said tool shall be elevated j to the highest possible point; and to effect this result each slider o terminates at its outer end in wedge-shaped ears p p', which operate in connection with trunnions q q', projecting laterally from each side of the upper end of the bar c1,in such manner that as the slider o1 is pushed outwardly, as stated, the wedges enter beneath the trunnions, a-nd elevate the said bar c1 toits highest point with respect to the lever o.

As one of the functions to be performed by employ, in addition to the tools a# a4, a brush,l

t,which is disposed intermediate between such tools andcentrally of the carriage u, and is suspended from such carriage by side cheeks u' u', which slide in guides fu', formed upon the sides of the carriage, the brush being de'- pressed toward or upon the table of the machine by springs w', applied in a proper manner, and being susceptible of vertical adjustment, in order to bring it into action upon a skin, or retain it in a position above the same. To effect this vertical adjustment of the brush at such times as the machine may be in operation, I mount upon each end o f a horizontal shaft, a2', which passes through the carriage, a double-pointed wiper-cam, y', which wipes against the under side of a shelf, e2, which constitutes the upper part of each cheek u', while to the outer face of each cam I affix a doubleended lever or tripper, b2. i

The longest axes of the two cams y' are in a common plane, but the axes of the trippers are at right angles to each other 5 consequently the longest plane of one tripper is parallel to that of the cam to which it is attached, and that of the opposite tripper at right angles to its cam. v

Below the under side of the ring-plate, and diagonally upon opposite sides of the rails, I dispose two horizontal bolts, c2 c2, which are pressed outward by suitable springs, the i11- ner ends of these bolts, when pressed inward, protruding toward the carrie-gez' to such an extent as to intercept the trippers b2.

Supposing the brush to be in its highest and inactive position, in which event both cams are in a vertical position, and maintaining the brush at such elevation, one ofV the trippers being also vertical and the other horizontal, as the carriage begins its traverse in either direction, the bolt which is adjacent to the vertical tripper is pushed inward, and

the tripper intercepts such bolt and is knocked over by it into a horizontal position, the opposite tripper being brought to an upright position, thus removing the points of the cams from below the shelves a2, and permitting the springs to lower the brush upon the skin to be treated.

If the brush is to be elevated, the opposite bolt is to be pushed inward and intercept the opposite tripper, which is in an erect position, this tripper being knocked over, the position of the two cams reversed, and the brush elevated. f

It will thus be seen that, without stopping the movements of the machine, I am enabled to throw out of action one or both of the tools and the brush, or to bring into action any or all these objects.

By my method of suspending the operating elements of the machine upon a swinging crane, and the power I possess of turning these elements upon a center, I obtain a universal freedom of motion, which enables me to bring the machine to bear readily, easily, and quickly upon any part of a skin.

Owing to the novel manner in which I make connection between the driving-shaft and the vertical shaft, very little power is required to change the position of the carriage t and its accessories, and in this respect my present machine will be found to present very great advantages.

By the mode of supporting the crane K as herein' described, I maintain the tools at all times 'in a given horizontal position with respect to the skin, or its supporting table or bed,and-relieve the operator from any labor of supporting the weight or maintaining the lproper elevation of the carriage t.

For glassing leather, and for some other uses, the swinging beam K may be locked in position, and the frame Y moved backward and forward thereupon.

The epicyeloidal wheels afford a simple and powerful means of effecting the desired recipi rocations of the tool-stock, and of permitting the carriage v to be brought to any desired position, while the rod or shaft X always maintains the same relative position with re spect to the tool-stock, or directly over the work to be done.

For thepurpose of glassiug hides I propose to employ a table covered with india-rubber or other elastic or semi-elastic agent, and disposed below the carriage.

I am enabled to obtain any desired speed of stroke, or any desired pressure upon a skin; and, as before stated, my machine is equally applicable to the purposes of scouring, setting, and glassing leather or beaming hides.

I have found my machine in practice to operate to excellent advantage in glazing paper, and Ido not desire to restrict myself in any manner to the uses to which the machine may be put.

y crane K and shaft S, of the carriage T, supported in part by sliding lupon and driven by said shaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. Y

2. The combination, with shaft S and carriage T, of the rollers It' l m, one of which travels in a groove or rabbet in said shaft, as described, whereby such rollers and carriage are compelled to rotate with such shaft, and such rollers constitute anti-friction bearings, to reduce friction between the shaft and carriage, substantially as and for purposes stated.

3. The combination of the crane K, shaft S, tubular carriage T, rollers 7c l m, gears V and W, and vertical shaft X, substantially as and for purposes stated.

et. The screw F, screwing within the beam D, and provided with the gear G, in combination with the rod or shaft I and its gear H, whereby the vertical adjustment of the crosshead and crane is effected, substantially as and for purposes stated.

5. In combination, lthe cross-head C, susceptible of vertical adjustment, the crane K, the shaft L, acting to operate the crane K, and, in connection with its gear, as a means of rotating the shaft S, gear V, and shaft X, substantially as and for purposes stated.

6. The spring-latch y, in combination with the bracket x and frame Y, substantially as and for purposes stated.

7. The stud n upon the under side of the epicycle q, in combination with the tilting or oscillating' lever e', or the same and its tubular sliders o', substantially as and for'purposes stated.

8. In combination with the traversing toolcarriage e, the oscillating lever, operated substantially as specified, to effect vertical changes of the tools.

9. The bolts r r', in connection with. the

studs s of the tubular sliders o', as a means of elevating or depressing one or both the tool-stocks and tools, substantially as and for purposes stated.

10. The combination of the tubular sliders 0 o and tool-stocks al bl, whereby an outward movement of the sliders elevates the adjacent tool, and throws it out of action, and removes itself from the path of rotation of the wiper-stud upon the wheel q, substantially as and for purposes stated.

1l. The latchesxk, in combination with the carriage t and tilting lever e, substantially as and for purposes stated.

12. The mechanism for mounting and adjusting the brush t', consisting of the cheeks a', sliding within or upon the carriage t, the wiper-cams y. and trippers b2, operating in connection with the bolts 02, substantially as and for purposes stated.

13. In combination with the tool-carriage and the lever e, the wheel q and ring r, ar

ranged and operating substantially as deand the swinging crane, of the pivotal bushsoribed, to effect the reciprooation of the earings or tubes let into the ear of thecrane, and

riage and the tilting of the lever7 for the purthe ears e e of the cross-head, substantially as poses set forth. set forth.

14. The rails f, provided with stops l,

whereby the latches k are released' from eon- FREDERIC A LOGKWOOD' tact with the lever, substantially as and for Witnesses: purposes stated. F. CURTIS,

l5. The combination, With the cross-head C t W. E. BOARDMAN. 

